Journal of Neurology & Neurophysiology 2020, Vol.11, Issue 7, 507 Review Neurotransmitter Dopamine (DA) and its Role in the Development of Social Media Addiction Rasan Burhan1,and Jalal Moradzadeh2 1St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom 2Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,United Kingdom Corresponding Author* for opportunity, development and connection. It has undoubtedly become a pervasive part of the lives of today’s modern generation. RasanBurhan, St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; United Kingdom The Feedback Loop Mechanism Email: [email protected] Nowadays, many people spend hours on end using an array of social media platforms. There have been studies into Reward Prediction Error (RPE) encoding. Essentially, this pertains to a feedback loop related to dopamine Copyright: 2020 Burhan R, et al. This is an open-access article distributed feedback signals. This can be alikened to other forms of addictive behaviour under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits such as gambling [6]. For example, playing on a machine in a casino there is unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the noted to be an intense anticipatory period. It is at this stage that the dopamine original author and source are credited. neurones are very active and firing away. However, this is not infinite. Gradually there is tiring and when the cumulative negative outcomes build up, Received 02 November 2020; Accepted 13 November 2020; Published 27 the individual can become disheartened and disengaged. November 2020 The disengagement is caused by the loss of dopamine activity. Therefore, it is integral that there is a more delicate balance between the outcomes experienced. That way, the user can be kept in a loop. Essentially, that’s how Abstract the social media apps exploit these innate systems. The way this comes about is through a term referred to as Variable Reward Schedules. This works by positive stimuli being provided at random internals. By users checking their Social media today has become an integral part of people's lives worldwide. phones for notifications and updates at periodic intervals for something that It can cause addiction with dopamine implicated. This is perpetuated through could be intrinsically rewarding. Most of the time it’s a neutral stimuli, but on feedback loop mechanisms acting through dopamine reward system; keeping occasion there may be a positive stimuli leading to the rewarding dopamine the users in the loop. Social media has helped many people around the world release hence keeping the user in the feedback loop [7]. in different ways - connecting people globally and providing easy access to different types of information. However, overuse of the platforms and the Addiction and Social Media - Dopamine Implication application algorithm by individuals may be detrimental to their physical and Getting texts, likes or messages are intrinsically rewarding – they evoke mental well-being. There should therefore be increased awareness campaigns feelings of happiness and satisfaction due to the ‘virtual’ social life that social to address this contemporary issue and help to balance its impact on society; media platforms mimic. However, these feelings are only temporary and once maximising its positive utility and minimising its potential adverse impacts. they initial short-lived moment wears off, individuals look for more. It has Keywords: Social media•Feedback loop•Addiction•Cognition also been shown to have had an association with the many social problems that have grown in society over the past decade. It has also been linked with anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances [8]. Self-harm and body image issues are two such contemporary difficulties facing the younger generation Introduction to C8H11NO2 thought to be largely influenced by these platforms [9-12]. Dopamine is a naturally occurring type of neurotransmitter. It is known Parallels with other addictions to have numerous important roles in the body and specifically the brain. Biochemically it belongs to the catecholamine and phenethylamine category Studies have looked into various factors around this phenomenon. There are of organic chemicals. It has many functions in the brain including memory, several elements which are indicative of social media addiction. It has been reward pathways and motor co-ordination (relation to Parkinsonism) [1]. It is documented that the most important of these is salience – the idea that the released by the neurones and sends signals to other nerves cells within the users elevate the use of these social media platforms to becoming one of the Central Nervous System. There are several distinct dopamine pathways in the most important and integral aspects of their daily life. The modification of brain – and includes integration with reward motivated behaviour. Generally, mood is also implicated, with individuals using these avenues as a method it is seen to be the ‘pleasure chemical’ when there is talk of the underlying to alter their feelings and mood states. Expanding from this, it has also been mechanism behind why humans feel pleasure and there is a myriad of things stated that akin to other addictions of a more physical nature, tolerance may which can bring this about [2]. develop; where the users need to spend more time on the platforms to obtain the same changes in moods coveted. Concerningly, symptoms correlating More research into dopamine has revealed a tangential idea that it is involved with withdrawal have also been noted to affect some individuals in a similar with motivational salience. This is related to the aversiveness or desirability way to physical addictions such as alcohol [13]. of an organism’s behaviour towards or away from reaching an outcome [3]. It is understood that there are several important diseases affecting the nervous Interlink with Attachment Theory system where dopamine plays a substantial role in the pathogenesis. This There have been postulations that such addictions are closely interlinked includes Parkinson's Disease which is a neurodegerative condition which is with attachment disorders – caused from difficulties in early childhood known to be caused by a loss of dopamine-secreting neurons in substantia interactions with caregivers. The use of Facebook, for example, has been nigra para compacta. It has a metabolic precursor which is known as L-Dopa corelated with increased levels of attachment anxiety in the literature. otherwise commonly referred to as Levodopa. Another condition where Individuals with such anxiety attachment were considerably more likely to dopamine plays an integral role is schizophrenia – it is interesting to note turn to the platform to help alleviate negative feelings when encountered. that most antipsychotic drugs used to treat this are dopamine antagonists Additionally, they were also noted to be more likely to pay increased attention – which tautologically reduce the activity of dopamine [4]. Other conditions to others perceptions of them on the platform [14]. These can hinder healthier where dopamine is believed to be implicated include ADHD (Attention Deficit forms of coping with life’s difficulties from being fostered in such individuals; Hyperactivity Disorder) [5]. such as exercise, developing new hobbies and other creative outlets. These Contemporary Social Media Platforms alternative dopamine releasing activities may also enable more stable and longer lasting inner contentedness to develop within individuals. There are more than a billion accounts from people from every part of the world on the major social media platforms with Facebook, Instagram and Conclusion Twitter amongst the 3 most popular and widely-used of these. It has become a great avenue for connection for people everywhere, opening up avenues Social media today has become an integral part of people's lives worldwide. 1 Journal of Neurology & Neurophysiology 2020, Vol.11, Issue 7, 001-002 Burhan R, et al. It can cause addiction with dopamine implicated. This is perpetuated through 6. Schultz W. Dopamine reward prediction-error signalling: a two-component feedback loop mechanisms acting through dopamine reward system; keeping response. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2016;17. 3 (2016): 183-195. the users in the loop. Social media has helped many people around the world in different ways - connecting people globally and providing easy access to 7. Zald DH, et al. Dopamine transmission in the human striatum during monetary different types of information. However, overuse of the platforms and the reward tasks. J Neurosci. 24. 17 (2004): 4105-4112. application algorithm by individuals may be detrimental to their physical and 8. Primack BA, Escobar-Viera CG. Social Media as It Interfaces with mental well-being. There should therefore be increased awareness campaigns to address this contemporary issue and help to balance its impact on society; Psychosocial Development and Mental Illness in Transitional Age Youth. Child maximising its positive utility and minimising its potential adverse impacts. AdolescPsychiatrClin N Am. 26. 2 (2017): 217-233. 9. Marchant A, et al. A systematic review of the relationship between internet use, Conflict of interest self-harm and suicidal behaviour in young people: The good, the bad and the The authors declare no conflict of interest. unknown PLoS One. 13. 3 (2018): e0193937. References 10. D’Arienzo MC, et al. Addiction to social media and attachment styles: A systematic literature